The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7276 p707
22 November 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

Products

Prescription Products
• Minocycline tablets
• Morphine Minijet
• Niaspan tablets
SPC changes
• Eldepryl products
• Rapamune products
• Zyprexa for mania prevention
Discontinued products
• Zithromax tablets
• Isopto eye drops
• Aerocrom inhalers
Supply problems
• Slo-Phyllin capsules
• Nitrofurantoin suspension

Prescription Products

Minocycline tablets
Minocycline 50mg and 100mg tablets have been launched (PLIVA Pharma). Net price, 50mg 28 £8.36, 100mg 28 £14.74.

Morphine Minijet
Celltech has added morphine sulphate 1mg/ml in 10ml pre-filled syringes to its Minijet range, for the relief of moderate to severe pain where non-narcotic analgesia has failed. Net price, 1 syringe £5.75. Legal category: CD.

Niaspan tablets
Niaspan (nicotinic acid) modified-release tablets have been launched for the beneficial adjustment of blood lipid levels (Merck Pharmaceuticals). The tablets should be taken at bedtime, after a low-fat snack, and doses adjusted according to response. See SPC for details. Tablet strengths are not interchangeable. Net price, starter pack of 7 x 375mg, 7 x 500mg and 7 x 750mg tablets £14, 500mg 56 £17.25, 750mg 56 £26.25, 1g 56 £29.50.

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SPC changes

Eldepryl products
The summaries of product characteristics for Eldepryl (selegiline) tablets and syrup have been updated (Orion Pharma). Potential interactions with tramadol, dopamine, serotonin reuptake inhibitors and fluvoxamine have been added. The side effects section has been rearranged and now includes a table of the frequency of occurrence of undesirable effects seen with the products. See SPC.

Rapamune products
The summary of product characteristics for Rapamune (sirolimus) tablets and oral solution has been updated (Wyeth). Warnings against the use in patients who have received liver or lung transplants and of possible hypersensitivity reactions have been added. The adverse events section has been updated. Shelf lives have been added: 18 months for the oral solution before opening, 30 days after opening and 24 hours in the dosing syringe at temperatures not exceeding 25C; 1mg tablet 24 months; 2mg tablet 23 months. See SPC.

Zyprexa for mania prevention
Zyprexa (olanzapine) is now indicated for the prevention of recurrence of bipolar disorder in patients whose manic episode has responded to olanzapine treatment (Eli Lilly). The recommended dose is 10mg daily. For patients who have been receiving treatment with olanzapine for a manic episode, continue with same dose. The dose may subsequently be adjusted in the range 5mg to 20mg daily . See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Zithromax tablets
Zithromax (azithromycin) 500mg tablets are being discontinued from 14 January 2004 (Pfizer).

Isopto eye drops
Isopto Frin (hypromellose 0.5 per cent and phenylephrine 0.12 per cent) and Isopto Carbachol (hypromellose 1 per cent and carbachol 3 per cent) eye drops have been discontinued and stocks are exhausted (Alcon). Other products in the Isopto range remain available.

Aerocrom inhalers
Aerocrom (sodium cromoglicate 1mg and salbutamol sulphate 100µg) Inhalers and Syncroners are to be discontinued by Castlemead. Stocks are expected to be exhausted by February 2004. Any back orders will be cancelled by distributors Distriphar at that time.

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Supply problems

Slo-Phyllin capsules
Merck says that its Slo-Phyllin (theophylline) modified-release 60mg, 125mg and 250mg capsules remain available. Owing to a clerical error, the products were falsely marked as discontinued in the October update for the Multilex drug database used within some medical and pharmacy computer systems. This has been corrected in the November update. Patients do not need to be transferred to other products. Merck is asking pharmacists to check with prescribers any prescriptions that may represent an unnecessary switch to another product. Patients being transferred from Slo-Phyllin should have doses re-titrated and a clinical assessment carried out.

Nitrofurantoin suspension
Goldshield has replaced its branded product Furadantin suspension with nitrofurantoin oral suspension 25mg/5ml (pack size 300ml, net price £65) and says that the product is now available again.

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